What Joelinton’s new injury concern will do to Newcastle’s stance on Kalvin Phillips in January

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Journalist Luke Edwards has shared what sort of impact Joelinton’s injury concerns will have on Newcastle’s position on Kalvin Phillips in the transfer window.

News emerged yesterday that the Brazilian could require surgery on his thigh that would keep him out for the rest of the season, surely impacting how Newcastle approach this January window.

However, Edwards has made it clear on X that currently the situation is the same regarding Phillips and Newcastle are still looking to walk away from the deal because of Manchester City’s asking price.

Newcastle think fee for Phillips is still too high

Should Joelinton actually be ruled out for the season, that would mean that Newcastle are now one Bruno Guimaraes yellow card away from having Sean Longstaff and Lewis Miley as the only available midfielders for at least two games.

This would likely force someone like Lewis Hall or Fabian Schar to step into midfield, but either way it’s not ideal for Eddie Howe who is absolutely desperate to get some reinforcements in the middle.

However, it seems no matter how desperate they are, Newcastle won’t be forced into making a deal they don’t want to make, and that’s how they feel about the £7m fee on Phillips’ head.

£7m to take someone on loan for the next five months is certainly extortionate, but perhaps an even bigger issue is the fact they don’t want to include an obligation to buy for £40m with Joelinton, Sandro Tonali and Joe Willock all to return.

On X, Edwards said: “This will surely have to alter #nufc transfer plans this month but no change on Phillips stance as things stand.”

Interest elsewhere for Phillips has crept in

For a while it looked like Phillips would end up at either Newcastle or Juventus as the two frontrunners for the 28-year-old, but now other teams are starting to look very keen.

Both Tottenham and Crystal Palace have emerged as potential destinations, though Phillips would prefer a move in the North of England, and hearing Newcastle don’t want to pay the fee will be good news for them.

As for Newcastle, however, it’s understandable that they don’t want to commit a significant portion of their summer budget on Phillips, but they cannot finish this season with just three fit midfielders, something must be done.